OTTAWA – When the Companions of the Cross met for their general assembly Jan. 30-Feb. 3 in Cornwall, Ont., the priests had their first chance to reflect on the impact of last year's death of their founder, Father Bob Bedard.

"The passing of a founder, of a spiritual father in Christ is a watershed for any community in the history of the Church," said Father Scott McCaig, who was re-elected for a second six-year term as the order's leader.

"I will it say it's courage," Turcotte said from his office in Montreal. "To be a cardinal, it's a lot of work. It is not only to elect the pope!" He will become a member of many congregations or dicasteries in the Holy See, he said. "Cardinals are the counsellors of the pope in those different congregations."

OTTAWA – Over the years, Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast has come to appreciate the depth of Cardinal-designate Thomas Collins' scholarship, his love for the Scriptures and for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, and his courage in sharing his faith in the public square.

Though Prendergast had met Collins several times over the years, it wasn't until the two were in 1999 in Rome to receive their palliums – the symbol of being a metropolitan archbishop – that they began to know each other.

WINNIPEG – The quest for social justice involves a struggle with those who inflict social injustice. But the greater struggle is with ourselves, says a Venezuelan Jesuit who has taught ethics and human rights and lived and worked among the poor in a Caracas slum.

Father Eduardo Soto Parra said the struggle for social justice begins as a personal attitude. There is "a greater struggle" that is more than personal. But the ideologies that drive social injustice are "very close to us in ways that are both subtle and blatant."

The strength of a man's faith impacts his family and his community. Yet there is a great spiritual battle in our times, and many fathers and sons are losing sight of what it means to be men of God.

Making matters worse is that many priests do not preach a clear, truthful message. Too many clergy are preaching lukewarm, watered-down, dumbed-down homilies or, what Father Bill Casey referred to as "Catholic lite."